Cookies

When we provide services, we want to make them easy, useful and reliable. Where services are delivered on the internet, this sometimes involves placing small amounts of information on your device, for example, computer or mobile phone. These include small files known as cookies. They cannot be used to identify you personally.

We use cookies to improve your experience of our website. Here’s what they help us do:

Recognise your device so you don't have to repeatedly give the same information, like when you’re filling in forms

Recognise that you may have already given a username and password so you don't need to do it for every requested web page

Measure how many people are using different parts of the site, so we can make them easier to use and ensure there’s enough capacity to make them fast

Analyse anonymised data to help us understand how people interact with government services so we can make them better

What are cookies?

Cookies are tiny text files that websites save to your computer or device. The cookies used by our website do not contain any of your personal information, and we can't use them to find out who you are.

A cookie often includes a randomly generated number that’s stored on your device. Many cookies are automatically deleted after you finish using the website.

Government websites - how we use cookies

The way we use cookies is the same as all government websites. They are used to:

Improve users’ experience of government websites

Measure website performance so we can show value for money in the delivery of information and services

Support users’ sharing of information through social media

Measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns that we have endorsed